Banner winding device

ABSTRACT

A device for winding a web of material includes a slotted shaft and a motor. The slot in the shaft is oriented along the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and the slot is open on one end of the shaft. The slot is adapted to receive the edge of the web. The motor is connected to the shaft and adapted to rotate the shaft to thereby wind the web.

[0001] The present invention relates to devices for winding webs ofmaterial such as banners.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The manufacture of banners is a very labor-intensive process. Aweb of banner material must be printed, cut, edged or hemmed ifnecessary, wound, and then shipped. While there can be automation ofsome parts of this process, there are still time-consuming steps.

[0003] One step that is historically slow and labor intensive is themanual rolling up of banners once printed, cut, and edged or hemmed.Typically, this hand rolling step is the final step before shipment.Often, there is a substantial hurry to ship out the wound banners, soother work in the facility suffers when all of the hands go to roll upbanners. Also, the actual physical act of hand winding up banners isinherently inconsistent. If a banner is wound loosely or not straight,then the result is inefficient packaging that could lead to shipmentissues and damaged goods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providea device for the efficient and consistent winding of banners or otherwebs of materials. The result is a uniform wound product that isobtained substantially faster than a manual winding process.

[0005] In one embodiment, the invention is a device for winding a web ofmaterial. The device comprises a slotted shaft wherein the slot isoriented along the longitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein the slot isopen on one end of the shaft, and further wherein the slot is adapted toreceive the edge of the web. A motor is connected to the shaft andadapted to rotate the shaft and thereby wind the web. The motor may be avariable speed motor, and it may be actuated by a foot pedal. The motormay be connected directly to the shaft, or it may be connected to theshaft by a belt and pulley apparatus. The device for winding the web mayfurther comprise a movable frame, wherein the motor and shaft aremounted onto the frame.

[0006] In another embodiment, the invention is a method of winding a webof material. The method includes providing a slotted shaft wherein theslot is oriented along the longitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein theslot is open on one end of the shaft, and further wherein the end isadapted to receive the edge of the web. The method further provides amotor connected to the shaft adapted to rotate the shaft and therebywind the web. The method includes the further steps of inserting an edgeof the web into the slotted shaft and actuating the motor to wind up theweb. The method also includes sliding the wound web off the shaft. Theactuation of the motor may comprise pressing a foot petal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a banner winding device inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a slotted shaft and bearinghousing in accordance with the present invention.

[0009]FIG. 3 is a side elevation, cross sectional view of a slottedshaft in accordance with the present invention.

[0010]FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a banner winding device inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] In the most simple terms, the present invention is a slottedshaft connected to a motor. The slot is adapted to receive the edge of aweb such as a banner that will then be wound around it, and, once wound,removed easily therefrom. The figures show a preferred embodiment of adevice in accordance with the present invention. Other variations willbe readily apparent to those of skill in the art and may be designed orcustomized for a specific web winding application.

[0012] Turning now to FIG. 1, there is shown a winding device 10 thatincludes a shaft 11, motor 12, and frame 13. The shaft 11 is attached tothe frame 13 by shaft bearings 20 that are contained in a bearinghousing 21. That housing 21 is mounted onto the table surface 22 portionof the frame 13. Also attached to the frame 13 and suspended below thetable surface 22 is the motor 12. Motor mounts 23 attach and secure themotor 12 beneath the table surface 22.

[0013] The motor 12 is actuated by the actuator lever 30 that is in turnconnected to linkage 31 that is then connected to foot pedal 32. A usermay move the foot pedal 32 upwardly and downwardly in order to move theactuator lever 30 and set the motor 12 in motion to turn the shaft 11.The actuator lever 30 is spring-loaded so that it is biased in theupward or off position. Power to the motor 12 is controlled by powerswitch 35 that is connected to an electrical source by electric cord 36.

[0014] The frame 13 is made up of horizontal base supports 41 andvertical supports 42. The base supports 41 are carried by caster wheels40 in order to make the entire device easily movable. The base supports41 carry the vertical supports 42. The base supports 41 are furtherconnected to a cross bar 43 that carries the foot pedal 32. The verticalsupports 42 are connected on their bottom to the base supports 41 and ontheir top to the table surface 22.

[0015]FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the shaft 11 extending from thebearing housing 21. Shaft 11 includes a slot 50 that runs alongsubstantially the entire length of the longitudinal axis of the shaft11. The end of the shaft 11 opposite the bearing 20 is open. There arebeveled or rounded edges 51 on the open end of the shaft 50.

[0016]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the shaft. As is evident fromthis view, the shaft 11 has a slot 50 which is defined by the edges 52that are deburred and rounded to prevent any sharp surface from comingin contact with or damaging a web that will be wound. In a preferredembodiment, the width of the slot 50 is one-quarter inch. The width maybe varied depending on the web being wound.

[0017]FIG. 4 demonstrates the linkage mechanism between the motor 12 andthe shaft 11. Specifically, there is shown a pulley 60 that is attachedto the spindle 61 of the motor 12. There is similarly a pulley 62 thatis fixed to the shaft 11. A belt 63 runs around the pulleys 60 and 62 sothat when the motor 12 operates, it rotates the pulley 60 which in turnrotates the pulley 62 and rotates the shaft 11.

[0018] In use, a person inserts an edge of a web into the slot 50 of theshaft 11. Once the web is inserted into the slot 50, the motor 12 isactuated by the foot pedal 32 to begin rotation of the shaft 11.Preferably, the motor 12 is a clutch motor, so by slowly engaging theclutch, the rotation of the shaft is relatively slower at first. Oncethe web has wound one or more revolutions around the shaft 11, then theclutch can be fully engaged and the speed increased to quickly andcompletely wind up a web such as a banner. Once the web is wound aroundthe shaft 11, it may simply be removed by longitudinally sliding the weboff of the shaft 11 that remains fixed.

[0019] For example, a job may consist of winding vinyl banners ofvarious thickness having typical dimensions of 3′±×12′±. The short sideis inserted into the slot in the shaft. The clutch motor is thenengaged, and the shaft is rotated so that a banner is wound in aboutthree seconds. Based on experience, an order of 500 banners could take8.3 man hours to wind up by hand. Using a banner winder as describedherein, the same job can be done in less than 1.5 hours.

[0020] The shaft 11 is preferably made of stainless steel or othersmooth metal material. This is preferred for rigidity purposes as wellas for the sake of creating only smooth edges. Also, it facilitatessliding the wound web off of the shaft. The specific shape of a slot ona shaft is not important. It is only important that the slot be able toreceive a web of material.

[0021] The web of material that may be wound may be virtually anything.The web must be thin enough to be insertable in the slot, and it mustnot be so tacky as to stick to the shaft so that it cannot be easilyslid off after wound. The devices are very effective and helpful whenwinding most vinyl banners. Cloth or other film materials may similarlybe wound.

[0022] The length of the slotted shaft is a matter of preference orspecific application. In a preferred embodiment, the shaft is about 59inches long to accommodate banners having a width of about 48 inches.Heavy, low friction bearings are preferred to carry the shaft so thatpotential rough handling during use does not disable the shaft.

[0023] As shown, the motor 12 is mounted underneath the table surface22. The motor is connected to and rotates a shaft through a belt andpulley apparatus as shown. Alternatively, a motor may be a variablespeed motor and/or it may be connected directly to a shaft. Also, othertypes of gears and other drive connections could be used. In thepreferred embodiment, the motor is Tacsew Industrial Clutch Motor Model# BM1878-IL.

[0024] While the invention has been described with reference to specificembodiments thereof, it will be understood that numerous variations,modifications and additional embodiments are possible, and all suchvariations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as beingwithin the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for winding a web of materialcomprising: a slotted shaft wherein the slot is oriented along thelongitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein the slot is open on one end ofthe shaft, and further wherein the slot is adapted to receive the edgeof the web, and a motor connected to the shaft and adapted to rotate theshaft and thereby wind the web.
 2. A device for winding a web ofmaterial as described in claim 1, wherein the motor is a clutch motor.3. A device for winding a web of material as described in claim 1,wherein the motor is actuated by a foot pedal.
 4. A device for winding aweb of material as described in claim 2, wherein the motor is actuatedby a foot pedal.
 5. A device for winding a web of material as describedin claim 1, wherein the motor is connected directly to the shaft.
 6. Adevice for winding a web of material as described in claim 1, whereinthe motor is connected to the shaft by a belt and pulley apparatus.
 7. Adevice for winding a web of material as described in claim 1, furthercomprising a movable frame, and wherein the motor and shaft are mountedonto the frame.
 8. A method of winding a web of material comprising:providing a slotted shaft wherein the slot is oriented along thelongitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein the slot is open on one end ofthe shaft, and further wherein the slot is adapted to receive the edgeof the web, and a motor connected to the shaft and adapted to rotate theshaft and thereby wind the web; inserting an edge of the web into theslot in the shaft, actuating the motor to wind up the web, and slidingthe wound web off the shaft.
 9. A method of winding a web as describedin claim 8, wherein actuation of the motor comprises pressing a footpedal.